Videos pre-finalist 2023

The pre-finalists for the Innovation Award, the Amsterdam competition for innovative ideas that contribute to a better world.

Visit the showcase pages to see each pre-finalists showcase their idea through a personal video.

Universities
HvA UvA VU Amsterdam UMC ACTA

Ewelina Weglarz-Tomczak (UvA): Lysosomal protease inhibitors for Alzheimer’s

Ewelina Weglarz-Tomczak (UvA): Novel lysosomal protease inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease Highly specified proteases are the key regulators in the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. AI-powered technology developed by NatInLab has led to the discovery of how those proteases are controlled in the human organism. Based on this knowledge, developing novel, […]

Georges Janssens (Amsterdam UMC): My Health Buddy

Georges Janssens (Amsterdam UMC): MyHeBu (My Health Buddy), a wearable device-based and AI-powered digital twin to track your health and aging. Many people are tracking all of their health data using wearable devices, but it’s not really giving them answers to simple questions like: ‘How often should I exercise?’, or ‘Is my high protein diet […]

Imran Avci (VU): COMB-O

Imran Avci (VU): Disposable, ultra-sensitive optical biosensors for early cancer diagnosis (COMB-O) In the last decade, cancer has become a silent pandemic as it is the second leading cause of death globally. Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment, and therefore we urgently need sensitive, specific and affordable solutions. The development of optical biosensors that […]

Job Calis (Amsterdam UMC) and Mark Hoogendoorn (VU): IMPALA

Job Calis (Amsterdam UMC) and Mark Hoogendoorn (VU): IMPALA: Innovative Monitoring system for PAediatrics in Low-resource settings: an Aid to save lives. Each year, more than 3 million children die in poor countries. At least half of these deaths can be prevented by early recognition, before patients deteriorate. In Europe, patient monitors are used to […]

John van der Kamp and Boris Lancelot (VU): Lentala

John van der Kamp and Boris Lancelot (VU): Rom & Lupa designed by Lentala: school furniture for active sitting Today, children move too little and sit too much, especially a school classrooms. Prolonged passive sitting is a risk factor for poor physical health and low mental well-being. The human body has evolved to move and […]

Mădălina Rîurean (VU): Madglove

Mădălina Rîurean (VU): Madglove- helping people get a grasp on spasticity. Over 40 million people in the world struggle with hand spasticity, creating pain and making it difficult for them to do simple daily tasks. Madglove is creating low tech, accessible, home rehabilitation solutions, to give back people their independence. Through co-creation with end users […]

Marjon van Rijn (HvA): Journey to the end of life

Marjon van Rijn (HvA): Journey to the end of life Research indicates that healthcare professionals often struggle to initiate conversations about the wishes and preferences for care and treatment at the end of life with older people. A partial solution lies in providing training for these discussions within a safe learning environment by way of […]

Paul Merkus (Amsterdam UMC): BoneMRI of the head

Paul Merkus (Amsterdam UMC): BoneMRI of the head There are many young patients that face deafness and need surgery to be able to hear. Before the surgery, the ENT-surgeon currently needs two scans: an MRI to visualize the soft tissues like nerves, and a CT scan to show the bony structures. However, the CT scanning […]

Siwan Aberkane (VU): PULSE Sports

Siwan Aberkane (VU): PULSE Sports – App-connected sportswear allowing athletes to monitor their body & mind, to maximise performance & avoid over-training. Millions of athletes worldwide are in a crisis, struggling with extreme physical and mental issues. Research experts and athletes themselves confirme that existing tools are too superficial and inaccurate for the prevention of […]

Zeliha Guler (Amsterdam UMC): Novel wound-healing implant

Zeliha Guler (Amsterdam UMC): Development of a novel wound-healing implant with localized estradiol delivery One out of four women is under risk for prolapse, and it increases up to 60% by age or giving birth. For the correction of prolapse permanent implants are being used, but they may cause clinical complications in the long term. […]